Sewing machine needle threader

ABSTRACT

A body is provided and defines an elongated substantially straight groove extending along and opening outwardly of one side of the body. Abutment structure is supported from the body in registry with one end of the groove for adjustable shifting in a direction generally paralleling the groove and is adapted to have the pointed end of a needle seated in the groove abutted thereagainst. A second elongated and substantially straight groove is formed in the same side of the body at generally right angles relative to the first groove and intersects with the latter intermediate its opposite ends. The second groove is adapted to seatingly receive a length of sewing thread therein and the body supports an elongated blade portion having one end thereof shiftable along a path disposed normal to a plane containing the grooves and intersecting with the center lines of the grooves. The blade end is of a cross-sectional shape to be received through the eye of a sewing machine needle seated in the first groove and having its point abutted against the abutment structure for the purpose of projecting a length of sewing thread disposed in the second groove through the eye of the needle, the adjustable abutment structure being provided to establish proper longitudinal displacement of the needle relative to the body in a manner such that the eye of the needle is registered with the path along which the blade is projected.

United States Patent m1 111 3,888,396 June 10, 1975 Liebrecht, deceasedet a].

[ sizwmc MACHINE NEEDLE THREADER [76] inventors: Lawrence S. Llebrecht,deceued, 1

late of Delphos. Ohioeby FranclsM. Llebrecht, heir, 428 S-.'FranltlinSt.,

Delphos, Ohio 45333 221 Filed: Apr. 16,1974 [2i] Appl.No.:46l,458

52 us. Cl. 223/99 s l] Int. Cl. A4lh 31/00 [58] Field of Search..;223/99; 112/225 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,033,7553/1936 Chason 223/99 2.490382 l2/ I949 Pinkham et al 223/99 2.525.034l0/l950 Jamo 223/99 X 2.747,778 5/1956 Balzer 223/99 2.777.623 l/l957Balzer 223/99 2,800,262 7/1957 Appel 223/99 Primary Examiner-George H.Krizmanich Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Clarence A. O'Brien; Harvey B.Jacobson [57) ABSTRACT A body is provided and defines an elongatedsubstantially straight groove extending along and opening outwardly ofone side of the body. Abutment structure is supported from the body inregistry with one end of the groove for adjustable shifting in adirection generally paralleling the groove and is adapted to have thepointed end of a needle seated in the groove abutted thereagainst. Asecond elongated and substantially straight groove is formed in the sameside of the body at generally right angles relative to the first grooveand intersects with vthe' latter intermediate its opposite ends-The.second groove is adapted to seatingly receive a lengthpt' sewing threadtherein and the body supports/an elongated blade portion having oneendthereof shifiable along'a path disposed normal to a plane containingthe grooves and intersecting with the center lines of the grooves. Theblade end is of a cross-sectionalshape to be received through the eye ofa sewing machine needle seated in the first groove and having its pointabutted against the abutment structure for the purpose of projecting alength of sewing thread disposed in the second groove through the eye ofthe needle, the adjustable abutment structure being provided toestablish proper longitudinal dis-. placement of the needle relative tothe body in a manner such that the eye of the needle is registered withthe path along which the blade is projected.

6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures SEWING MACHINE NEEDLE THREADER heretoforedesigned for the purpose'of facilitating the threading of asewingfmachine needle. Examplcsfof these previously devised sewingmachine .needle threading devices are disclosed in 'US. Pat. Nos.)- 1-.FIG.2 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken hereinafterdescribed and 2.006.185 to S. Sidler. dated lune 25.1935. 2.476.872

to .l. N. .lamo. dated .luly'l9. l949.2.'5()'Z.370 to A. E. Edwards.dated May 9. I950. 2.483.595 to C. U. Olson. date Oct. 4. i949 and2.525.034 to'J. N. .Iamo. dated Oct. 10. i950. w

However. these previously known needle threading devices have notincluded readily infinitely variable means whereby the needle threadingdevices may be adjusted to compensate for different makes. sizes andtypes of sewing machine needles. As a result. mostof these previoussewing machine needle threading devices are preset to be utilized in'conjunction with a given needle or must be adjusted in a reasonablycomplicated manner in order to function properly in connection withneedles of various sizes;

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The needle threader of the instantinvention includes a body having a first laterally opening groove formedtherein for seatingly receiving a needle extending longitudinally of thegroove. The body includes abutment structure registered with one end ofthe groove and adjustably shiftable along the center line of the grooveso as to define an adjustable abutment for precisely longitudinallypositioning an associated needle in the groove. The body includes asecond groove disposed at generally right angles to the first groove andformed in the same side of the body and which intersects with the firstgroove. The second groove is provided to seatingly receive a length ofsewing thread extending longitudinally therealong and a blade issupported from the body and includes a thin terminal end projectablethrough the intersecting midportions of the grooves along a pathdisposed substantially normal to a plane in which the grooves aredisposed. the terminal end of the blade being projectable through theeye portion of a needle registered with the intersecting mid-portions ofthe grooves and the path along which the terminal end of the blade isshiftable.

The main object of this invention is to provide a needle threader whichmay be quickly and efficiently utilized to thread the needle of a sewingmachine.

Another object of this invention is to provide a nee-r dle threaderwhich is readily infinitely adjustable so as to adapt the threader to beutilized in conjunction with different models and sizes of sewingmachine needles.

Yet another important object of this invention is to provide a needlethreader in accordance with the preceding objccts'and which may beutilized in conjunction with different types of sewing threads.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein isto provide a needle threader which will conform to conventional forms ofmanufacture. be of simple construction and easy to use so as to providea device that will be economically feasible. long lasting and relativelytrouble free in operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully substantially upon the plane v claimed,reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof.

wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIQN OFITHE DRAWlNGS 1 is a Perspective iew of the needlethreader of "the instant invention;

indicated by the section line 2-2 of FIG. It,

' FIG. 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantiallyupon' the plane indicated by the section line 3-3 of FIG. 2; and- I"FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the manner inwhich the proje'ctable slide portion of the needle threader is utilizedto project an associated length of thread through the eye of asewingmachine needle with which the invention is being used.

' DETAlLlif) DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now morespecifically to the drawings. the numeral 10 generally designates theneedle threader of the instant invention. The threader 10 comprises anelongated body I2 having a longitudinal slot 14 formed therethrough andin which a blade member 16 is longitudinally reciprocal. The slot 16includes intermediate and forward successively reduced height portions18 and 20, respectively. and the blade member 16 includes a longitudinaltransverse slot 22 through which a transverse pin 24 secured through thebody 12 passes. The pin 24 defines. in conjunction with the oppositeends of the slot 22, limits of longitudinal shifting of the blade member16.

The body 12 includes a rear end 26 through which the rear end portion 28of the blade member 15 projects. The rear terminal end of the bladeportion is transversely enlarged as at 30 to define a fingerengageableknob for transferring longitudinal thrust to the blade member 16 so asto shift the latter forwardly relative to the body 12.

The blade member 16 includes a reduced height portion 32 which projectsinto the reduced height portion 18 of the slot 14 and a forward terminalend further reduced height portion 34 which is projectable through thereduced height portion 20 of the slot 14. Also, the body 12 includes arearwardly opening internal blind bore 36 whose forward end' is closedand whose rear end opens into the forward extremity of the full heightportion of the slot 14. A compression spring 38 is seated in the blindbore 38 at its forward end and the rear end of the compression spring 38bears against the shoulder surface 40 of the blade member 16 defined atthe rearmost extremity of the reduced height portion 32 of the blademember 16, the spring 38 serving to yieldingly bias the blade member 16to its rearmost positlon in the slot 14.

The forward end 42 of the body 12 includes a first upstanding generallystraight and forwardly laterally outwardly opening groove 44 as well asa second horizontal transverse groove 46 which opens laterally outwardlyof the forward end of the body 12 and includes a mid-portionintersecting with the lower end portion of the groove 44.

The forward second reduced portion 20 of the slot 14 opens through theintersecting portions of the grooves 44 and 46 and the mid-portion 48 ofan elongated lever 50 extending longitudinally of the underside of thebody 12' is rockablysupportedfrorn the portion threaded blind bore 52formed-inthebottorn of .the body. The forward terminal end54of'thcxlev'er 50 is 2 disposed is registry with the lower endof thegroove 44 and is adapted to have the pointedj low'e f-j terminal end rregistry withthe forward terminal end of the blade of the body l2.intermediate its opposite .endsby means of a fastener 5l-threaded'intoa-downwardlyopening.

rnember-l6 when the lower pointed end 56 of the needle 58 isabuttedagainst theforward terminal end 54 a of the'lever S0, the 'reariend ofthe lever 84 is depressed inwardly against the biasing action of thes'pring'88 so .as to retract thebeakl92'to'the solid'line position 56 ofa-sewingmachine needle 58 disposed-in andes-j tending-along the groove44 abutted thereagainst with the eye 60 of the needle 58 registered withthe forward extremity of theforwardmost-reduced height portion of theslot through whichthe forward terminal end 34 of the blade member 16 isprojectable. The

thereof illustrated 'in FIG. 2.The'n'.'wi th the blademember l6r'e'tracted to the solid'line position-illustrated in Flfirl'and thesewing'machine thread 64 extending through the groove '46. the forwardend of the body 12 is advanced -toward the'needle, 58 until the latteris seatedinfthejgroqve 44 ThereafterJthe bodyiZ is ele- -vated untilsuch time as the pointed lower. terminal end cross-sectional shape ofthe forward terminal end 34 of the blade member i6 is such to be readilypassed through the eye60 of the needle 58 andithe forward end face ofthe terminal end 34 is transversely notched as at 62 to seatingly engagesewing machine thread 64 extending through the groove 46. inthis'rnanner. the sewing machine thread 64 may be readily projectedthrough the eye 60 of the needle 58 upon forward displacementof theblade member 16. I r

A compression spring 66 has one end thereof seated in a downwardlyopening blind bore formed in the. body l2 and the other end bearingagainst the upper side of the rear end portion of the lever 50. Also. aninternally threaded sleeve 68 having a finger engageable diamet- 56 ofthe needle 88 abuts the upper surface of the forward terminal end 84 ofthe lever 50. at which point the eye 60 of the-needle 58 wilibe inregistry with the forward terminal end 84 of the blade memberl6.'Thereaf- .ter." the rearend' portion of the lever 84. is released sothat the lever 84 may swing from the solid line position thereofillustratediin FIG. 2 to the dotted line position illustrated in Fl G.j2 under the biasing action of the s pring78 withjts beak 92 received'ina'third groove 100 formed in the b'odylZ above the groove 46, generallyparalleling the groove 46 and also intersecting the groove 44. inthis'manner. the cam surface-94 will engage and "clampingly. seattheneedle 58 in the groove 44. Then. manual pressure may be applied to theblade rically enlarged head 70 on its upper end is rotatably andslidably received in a vertical bore 72 formed through the body 12 toone side of the slot 14. A headed shank-type screw 74 has its threadedshank portion 76 rotatably and threadably engaged in the lower end ofthe sleeve 68 and passed through an upstanding bore 78 formed in therear end of the lever 50, the head of the fastener 74 bearing againstthe underside of the lever 50. Accordingly. the finger engageable head70 may be turned to adjustably angularly displace the lever relative tothe body 12 whereby the elevation of the forward terminal end of thelever 50 relative to the forward terminal end 20 of the slot 14 may be.

varied in accordance to the spacing of the eye 60 above the lowerpointed terminal end of the needle 58.

One side surface 80 of the body 12 is provided with a longitudinallaterally outwardly opening slot 82 opening through the opposite ends ofthe body 12 and a lever 84 has its mid-portion pivotally anchored in thelongitudinal mid-portion of the slot' 82 by means of a pivot fastener86. The rear end portion of the lever 84 is yieldingly biased laterallyoutwardly of the slot 82 by means of a coil spring 88 seated in alaterally outwardly opening blind bore 90 formed in the body 12 andopening outwardly of the side 80 thereof. The outer end of thecompression spring 88 bears against the inner edge portion of the rearend of the lever 84 seated in the slot 80.

The forward end of the lever 84 includes a transversely directed beak 92which is pointed and defines a cam surface 94 retracted to one side ofthe groove 44 in the manner illustrated in solid lines in FIG. 2 andprojectablc. upon angular displacement of the lever 84 from the solidline position thereof illustrated in FIG. 2 to the dotted line positionillustrated in FIG. 2. into the slot 44 from the outer side thereof forthe purpose of clamping the needle 58 in seated position within thegroove 44.

in operation. and with the assumption that the lever 50 is properlyadjusted so as to position the eye 60 in member 16"so as toforwa'rdlyadvance the latter in order that the notched forward'end edge 62 of theforward terminal end 34 thereof may be projected out of the forward endof the slot. engage the thread 64 and project the thread through the eyeof the needle 58 in the manner illustrated in' FIG. 4. Of course. thelever 50 may be adjusted in position so as to compensate for the eyes ofvarious different needles being spaced differently from the pointed endsthereof. Also. it will be seen that the forward corners of the body 12are sharply beveled as at'96 and 98 in order that the forward end of thebody 12 may be closely positioned relative to a sewing machine needlewithout interference fromany portion of the sewing machine needlesupport structure or pressure foot structure.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further. since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art. it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed. and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted torfalling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A needle threader for a sewing machine needle, said threaderincluding body means defining a first elongated substantially straightand laterally outwardly opening groove. said body means includingabutment means registered with one end of said groove and adjustablyshiftable lengthwise thereof. said abutment means being adapted to havethe pointed end of a needle seated in said groove abutted thereagainstfor adjustably longitudinally positioning said needle in said groove.said body means also including means defining a second elongatedsubstantially straight and laterally outwardly opening groove disposedat generally right angles relative to and including a longitudinalmidportion intersecting with a longitudinal mid-portion of said firstgroove and with said first and second grooves opening laterallyoutwardly insubstantially the same direction. said directiondisposedgenerally normal to said plane. and an elongated blade portion havingone terminal endthereof. having major and minor cross sectionaldimensions disposed atgenerally right angles 7 relative to 'each other.supportcdfrom said body for guidedlongitudinal oscillation hack and.forth transversely through the intersecting jportions' ;of said groovesalong a path generally paralleling said direction, a said terminal endbeing disposed with its-major cross-sectional d ime ns ioncttte'ndingalong, said. first groove'for projection of said terminalfend throughthe" eye of a needle seated'i'n said first' groove.:havihg.its

pointed end .a'butted against said abutment means and having its eyegenerally centered on'said path.andcam means shiftably supported fromsaid body for move-'- ment between a first retracted-position to oneside of said first groove and a second Ioperative'positionetttendingacross said first groove withfa portionthereo'f projecting into saidfirstgroove-fromthe open'side thereof.

2. The combination of claim whereinsaidabutment means comprises one endof an elongated lever generally paralleling said path and oscillatablysupported. intermediate its opposite ends. from said body means forrocking about a transverse axis generally paralleling said secondgroove. and adjustment means interconnected between said body means andthe other end of said lever for adjustably shifting said other endrelative to said body means.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said body I meansand said bladeportion include coacting means establishing limits of oscillation ofsaid blade portion --relative tosaidbody'means.

4. The combination of claim 3 including thrust meansoperativelyconnected between-said blade portion and saidbody meansyieldingly biasing said blade portion toward its limitposition with saidterminalcnd retracted from said grooves.

S. The :combin'ation of claim l wherein said cam means includes a leversupported. intermediate. its op- '=po'si te"'ends from said body foroscillatio'n about an axia generally parullelihg said first groove. oneend portion ofsald leverlncludlng a laterally projecting bcuk defining acam surface facing towardthe other end of said lever and inclinedrelative to the-direction in which said UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICECERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PATENT NO. 5,868,396

DATED 1 J ne 10, 1975 INVENTOR(5) 3 Die'orecht, deceased ei: all

It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent andthat said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown beiow:

Dzi-.-,='rence Liebrecht, deceased, late of Delphos, UiliO; by FrancesM. Die-Drecht, heir, 428 Franklin 3t., belphoe, @1110 45855 Signed andScaled this seventh Day of 0ct0ber1975 [SEAL] A ttest:

RUTH. C. MRSON C. MARSHALL DANN Arresting Officer Commissioner ofParentsand Trademarks

1. A needle threader for a sewing machine needle, said threaderincluding body means defining a first elongated substantially straightand laterally outwardly opening groove, said body means includingabutment means registered with one end of said groove and adjustablyshiftable lengthwise thereof, said abutment means being adapted to havethe pointed end of a needle seated in said groove abutted thereagainstfor adjustably longitudinally positioning said needle in said groove,said body means also including means defining a second elongatedsubstantially straight and laterally outwardly opening groove disposedat generally right angles relative to and including a longitudinalmid-portion intersecting with a longitudinal mid-portion of said firstgroove and with said first and second grooves opening laterallyoutwardly in substantially the same direction, said direction disposedgenerally normal to said plane, and an elongated blade portion havingone terminal end thereof, having major and minor cross-sectionaldimensions disposed at generally right angles relative to each other,supported from said body for guided lOngitudinal oscillation back andforth transversely through the intersecting portions of said groovesalong a path generally paralleling said direction, said terminal endbeing disposed with its major cross-sectional dimension extending alongsaid first groove for projection of said terminal end through the eye ofa needle seated in said first groove, having its pointed end abuttedagainst said abutment means and having its eye generally centered onsaid path, and cam means shiftably supported from said body for movementbetween a first retracted position to one side of said first groove anda second operative position extending across said first groove with aportion thereof projecting into said first groove from the open sidethereof.
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said abutment meanscomprises one end of an elongated lever generally paralleling said pathand oscillatably supported, intermediate its opposite ends, from saidbody means for rocking about a transverse axis generally parallelingsaid second groove, and adjustment means interconnected between saidbody means and the other end of said lever for adjustably shifting saidother end relative to said body means.
 3. The combination of claim 2wherein said body means and said blade portion include coacting meansestablishing limits of oscillation of said blade portion relative tosaid body means.
 4. The combination of claim 3 including thrust meansoperatively connected between said blade portion and said body meansyieldingly biasing said blade portion toward its limit position withsaid terminal end retracted from said grooves.
 5. The combination ofclaim 1 wherein said cam means includes a lever supported, intermediateits opposite ends, from said body for oscillation about an axiagenerally paralleling said first groove, one end portion of said leverincluding a laterally projecting beak defining a cam surface facingtoward the other end of said lever and inclined relative to thedirection in which said beak projects, said cam surface being swingableinto position into engagement with the outer side of a needle seated insaid first groove.
 6. The combination in claim 5 wherein said bodyincludes a third elongated substantially straight and laterally openinggroove formed therein generally paralleling the second groove anddisposed on the side thereof remote from said abutment means, said thirdgroove intersecting, centrally intermediate its opposite ends, with saidfirst groove, said beak and cam surface being swingable into and out ofsaid third groove.